- Reiterates need for Critical Care Nurses in the country due to rising COVID cases
- Association plans to cater to the need for intensive care nursing training courses
- APHNH is collaborating with NAITA to establish a Nurses’ Training Institute
In view of World Nursing Day, The Association of Private Hospitals and Nursing
Homes (APHNH) announced their commitment to initiating and expanding training programmes and
intensive care training courses for nurses in the private sector.
“As cases rise again in the country, we are very thankful for the nurses working tirelessly to keep us
safe. The strain on them is immense, especially given the country’s shortage of nurses and
paramedical staff. In the near future, we can ease their burden by training more nurses and
strengthening the sector at large,” commented APHNH Secretary Dr. Sunil Ratnapriya.
The ratio of nurses to the population in Sri Lanka stood at approximately two nurses per 1,000 Sri
Lankans in 2018, far below the global average of 3.81 nurses per 1,000 population (World Health
Organization, 2018). According to APHNH, expanding nursing programmes with all necessary haste
could help fill this shortage.
Due to the rising cases of COVID-19 and the subsequent pressure on health services, the
importance of critical care nurses has been recognized locally and globally. In line with the theme for
World Nursing Day this year, ‘A vision for future healthcare,’ APHNH called for the introduction of
critical care training programmes in the private health sector.
“Particularly, the need for Critical Care Nurses in the country is especially acute. Critical Care
Nurses provide direct and individualized nursing care to patients and require extensive specialized
training. Such formal training programmes have not yet been made available to the private sector
nursing staff. Therefore, APHNH is taking the initiative to introduce this training for private sector
nurses,” continued Dr. Ratnapriya.
To this end, APHNH is in the process of collaborating with the National Apprentice and Industrial
Training Authority (NAITA) and other industry stakeholders to establish a Nurses’ Training
Institute. Among several courses and internationally recognized qualifications provided, the
Association plans to cater to the need for intensive care training.
“We’re very grateful for the contribution of our healthcare workers in their efforts against the
pandemic. We can’t take the risk they face lightly – nurses formed the biggest healthcare worker
group to be infected with COVID-19, according to the International Council of Nurses. We will keep looking for ways to protect and support our private sector medical staff,” concluded Dr.
Ratnapriya.
About APHNH:
Established in 1972, the APHNH represents all the country’s private hospitals and nursing homes.
According to official statistics from the Institute for Health Policy, the private healthcare sector
accounts for Rs. 193 billion in expenditure on medical goods and services, which amounts to nearly
55% of the country’s total healthcare cost. As the leading representative of this industry, the
association plays a vital role in uplifting healthcare standards and building a healthier country.
Through its representation in the Private Health Services Regulatory Council (PHSRC), APHNH
plays an important role in the regulation of the country’s private health sector. Over the recent past,
its efforts have also included facilitating skills development among healthcare workers, conducting
courses for nurses to enhance their capability and contributing to the upliftment of healthcare
standards in the country in various ways.